Axle, spring, and steering-knuckle assembly



Aug. 21, 1923.

J. R. KONETSKY AXLE, SPRING, AND STEERING KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 15 1919 Fatented ug. 2l, 1923.

TRAILER & TRUCK CO., INC., OF SAN FRANCISCO, GALIFQRNIl-f OE CALIFORNIA. l i

a CORPORATION Y ,extinermite,y Ann STEERING-knooxtnASSEMBLY.' I

vinppiicauon' ,ined October 13, 191e. seriei No. 3,310,247.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that LJOHNKR. KONETSKY, a citizen of the United States, residing-fat the city-and county of San vFranciscofand Stateiof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Axle, Spring, and Steering-Knuckle Assemblies, Vof which the followingis a -speciiication l This. invention relates to an axle, spring and steering knuckle structure'and assembly yforl trucks, tractors, trailers Aand thelike. f

One of the objects of the present invention istoprovidea novel axle,'gspringand steering knuckleV structure and assembly,l espe-V cially adapted' foi` fmotor vehicles such as trucks, tractors, trailers and the like, and particularly to lprovide a 'built-up structure consisting of several separable parts, to-wit, an axle, a pair of stee and a pair Ofsprings. Y Another object of tlieinvention is` to provide a vnovel fastening means whereby the knuckle forks" and springs, together with the axle connecting the same, maybe assembled and secured to forma substantialand rigidr unit.

Further objects ,will hereinafter appear. The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination' and arrangement ofparts as hereinafter lmore fully described and claimed, having referenceV to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is al perspective view of the steering knuckle, thejfork Supportinggtlie` same,

' the spring and the axleff Fig. 2 is a sectional end view ofiFi-g. l. l The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a built-up rigid axle structure for the support of steering knuckles at each end thereof and for thereception of springs of the semi-elliptical, or'a similar type. It is common practice inthe'construction of axles to form the axle proper and the steering knuckle forks as a single unit.V

r Such consisting of va central axlesection A on each end of which is secured a `steering knuckle fork B. The forks here shown are constructed according to the standard practice but theyare, in addition thereto, supplied with a socketiextension 2 consisting of apair of side walls 3 in a bottom section,

4, for the reception of the axle ends. The socket extension is furthermore provided for ring knuckle forks,

i therewith and formed inithe axle ends'. The

thepurposefof securing and supp(farting kthe springs, indicated at C, andfor tyingor securing the axle, the steering'knuckle forks receivefU-bolts .5,v Theshape offthe socket s JOHN it.' xonnrsx, or sani rnetiorsco, camronurajassrenon 'ro' nurreitera and the springs, as aunit,.this being aocomj plished by providing lugs' formed integral` Y with the side sections -3 .and vperforated to -2 on eachY steering knuckle is formed. to fit :i

the axle end, in this instance square, and the deptliofthe vsocket is `such'l that the. upper surface of the axle will 'project Vslightly above the surface of the securing flugs 4".

The springs 5 are placedY directly ontopof thefaxlefends and are then secured by ,app lying the U-bolts 5 and tightly into place, the `springs beinglocked Vagainst turning movement on the axleends` `drawing the same .by a shoulder 6k formedvat the inne-r end of the socket. 1 These shoulders i'runY parallell with thesprings and serve as .guides and supportsywhich positively secure the springs at right anglesto the longitudinal kcenter line of the axle and further preventsturning .or'shifting of :either spring'. yThe Ulbolts thereforeserve several functions; rst, that Of rigidly securingtheV springs; secondly, that of securing-thesteering knuckle forks on the Vaxle ends. l

steering knuckle forks against end-wise or For theV purposeof lfurther the Y lateral movement-entire axle ends, I pro- Y Y .vide -a pin 7; oneffor each socket...l These pins are secured in the bottomfportion of the sockets, asshown in Fig, and project intorecessesy or..Y drilled holes.: registering forks are thus positively secured against lend'- wise movement and are otherwise secured by means of thev U-bolts 5."

I have in thi-s manner provided a built-'- up axle structure consisting Of'an axle secmay be 'employed to connect the yokes or serve the function of the axle. I therefore do not wish to limit the shape of the socket extension formed on each fork as this should conform to the cross section of the axle em ployed.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen' that theupper surface of the axle projects slightly above the surface ofthe lugs 4 and the sidewalls 3 forming the sockets. This is important as it permits the pull of the U- bolts to be transmitted inj'such a manner that the axle ends are forced down into, and rigidly secured in, the sockets..

The springs are therefore, practically Y speaking, 'supported entirely by the axle Y rugs and the springs, ums materially iii-V ends and might, under such conditions, have a tendency tobrea-k. To obviate this eii'ect, Iplace leather pads 8 or Shims Vbetween the creasing Athe'bearing surface supporting the springs, and to that extent"obviatingv any tendency towards breaking the springs at the point of supper@ and without any tendency of removing `the pressure between the springs, the axle and the sockets connecting the same. The construction ofv the; steering knuckle spindles', shownV at '9, the wheel spindles '10, the steering arms l1, and the cross rods 12, do'not'fo'rm 'any part of the present invention, I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the specific VAstructure shown.

I- similarly Wish it under-'stood that various changes inv form and proportions of the sever-a1 parts employed may be 'resorted to Ywithin thescope of 'the appended claims, and that the materials and finish of said parts employed may besuch as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate. i VHaving thus described my invention, what I 'claim 'and desire to; secure by Let ters Patent is- 1. An` axle, spring and steering knuckle assembly comprising a pair of 'steering knuckle forks, a substantially square axle, a

socket member formed on each fork for the reception of the respective axle ends, each socket member comprising a pair of par,- allel side walls and 'a bottom section, and

'said side walls presenting upper surfaces disposed slightly below the upper surface of the axle, a pair of loadv bearing springs supported on the upper surface of the axle, one in lalignment with yeach socket, a shoulder formed' adjacent vthe inner end` of, each socket with` which the] springs engage.,

and align and whereby they are secured against turning movement on the axle the axle, a pair oflugs formed one on each sideof said 'side' walls, 'and said lugs being y perforated, a pair of loadl bearing springs supported on the upper surfacey of the axle', one inaligriment wit-beach socket, a shoul der formeel adjacent 'the innerrend of each socket Vwith which the springs engage and aiign, anuwhereby they are secured against turning movement on the axle, a pair yof U-shaped clamps' straddlingeach load bear*- i'ng spring, 'said U-clamps passing` through the perforated lugs and exerting a downward Y.

pull on the springs against the axle, there by securing the axle ends in the respective sockets, vand simuitaneous'ly securing` the springs on the axle, and other means for se'-y curing the axleV face against endwise move- .ment With'reiation to the socket.

In testimony whereof I have h'ereuntoqset my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y'

Witnesses: j l .I oHN H. HERRING,

VWM. K. BAnnR.

Jona. n. xousrsxr. 

